Best selling author Eleanor Dash is in the middle of a splashy international book tour for her latest title. If she could just kill off her main character, life would be perfect, because in real life, the main character is based on a real man who is blackmailing her into funneling him profits from any books he is a character in. So, a problem! But during the tour, there is a murder, and Eleanor must solve a real life murder, not just in her stories. Great read, fast paced, fun and full of hijinks.

This book had me both ready to book a trip to Italy and wanting to reach through the pages and yell at the narrator about her choices. That being said, it was a super fun travel whodunit with a large cast of characters/suspects that will have you second guessing your predictions at every turn. The narrator broke the fourth wall a little much for my taste but if you enjoy books about publishing and cozy mysteries, you’ll love this!

This was entertaining and I love a good mystery!

Was a unique way to tell the story and at first was unsure of the writing style but I really enjoyed it!


Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read and review

Entertaining murder mystery. Lots of snark. Some surprises. A unique way of telling the story. The footnotes could have been more fun in a paperback. Didn't work for me on a Kindle. I would forget what they pertained to by the time I read them. I would have been happier without the "f" word. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

I had a hard time investing in this book. The story is good, it’s just the writing style. It’s different than what I’m used to. Some people will love it for that very reason. I enjoyed the humor in the book. . I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I loved this book, the style of writing, the storytelling and trying to figure out who the killer is? Eleanor wrote a book 10 years ago about a crime that happened and her ex-boyfriend who is now blackmailing her. Eleanor goes back to the scene of the crime to celebrate the 10 year anniversary with seven other people and they are all suspects.

Absolutely loved the quirky footnotes and the way that the story unfolded.

Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy!

The MC has such a strong voice, which is awesome. The humor was incredibly dry, and it’s funny, but I didn’t personally want to hang out with the MC for an entire book. I stopped after chapter 1 (4%) but I’m guessing this is going to be a solid three to four stars with five for the right readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

Eleanor Dash is a bestselling author who just wants to get through her book tour and kill off her main character, Connor Smith. This seems easy enough but someone else has different plans and those plans may include murder. Connor has found that someone is trying to kill him and enlists Eleanor to help him find out who it is and it could possibly be someone they know.
This was a fun mystery with a full cast of odd characters, all of whom could be the killers. I really enjoyed this and would recommend. 3.5 ⭐️ thank you to NetGalley And Minotaur Books for an advanced reader copy for a review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

My biggest issue with this book was the footnotes. There were so many and it interrupted my reading experience on the kindle to keep jumping to them. They were cute asides but hopefully the next book can figure out a better way to imparts the same info.

That said, this was a cute cozy mystery about a writer on a European tour with a number of interesting characters.

Really liked this one. The use of foot notes was particularly enjoyable and had me going back and forth at the end of each chapter. Very well done.

Various personalities are captured well in the characters and the scenes where they are all interacting were a delight.

Overall, a brilliant read and I'm already hoping for a second installment!

Thank you to NatGalley for the advance reading copy, the opinions are my own.
I rarely read romcon mysteries but this one is a lot of fun. I won't repeat the description from the bio. The sister relationship truly made this enjoyable. I also appreciate the dialogue between the two. Quick read for a rainy weekend or vacation. If you are a big cozy fan this book is for you.

Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster ride through the world of mystery with "Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies." Catherine Mack introduces us to the magnetic whirlwind, Eleanor, a bestselling mystery author who takes meta-mystery to a whole new level.

This cozy mystery is not your average page-turner—it's a blend of suspense, humor, and romance that will keep you hooked from start to finish. As Eleanor embarks on a book tour in Italy, you'll find yourself immersed in a plot filled with blackmail, international crime, and the kind of misadventures that only a bestselling author can stumble upon.

What sets this book apart is Eleanor's penchant for breaking the fourth wall. She not only talks to the readers but sometimes even coaches them, adding an extra layer of engagement that makes the story not just entertaining but interactive. The humor is sharp, the murders are not just attempts, and the romance adds a sweet touch to the narrative.

Eleanor's character is a delightful mix of snark and charm. Her disdain for her unscrupulous ex-boyfriend/blackmailer, Connor, adds a hilarious twist to the plot. The banter between Eleanor and her sister/assistant, Harper, is heartwarming, and the introduction of the oh-so-dreamy Oliver adds a romantic element that balances the suspense perfectly.

Mack weaves a complex mystery, keeping readers guessing until the very end. The footnotes, though numerous, bring a witty dimension to the storytelling. You can choose to delve into them or skip them, but either way, they add a unique flavour to the narrative.

"Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies" is a standout read of 2023. It's not just fun; it's a thrilling journey that makes you eagerly anticipate the next instalment in the series. Catherine Mack has created a satisfying mystery that keeps you on your toes and leaves you wanting more, and I can confidently say that I certainly can't wait for the next Installment; "Every time I go to a Wedding, Someone Dies".

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books and St. Martins Press for providing this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars

This was such a FUN book to read. It’s like mystery, comedy, and romance all packed in one story.

I actually had to Google this term, but the author breaks the fourth wall. I’ve never read a book like this and I absolutely LOVE that about this book. It makes it feel like the author is writing for me, specifically. It just adds something extra that you don’t see very often. Well, more like never, for me.

There were so many suspects in this murder mystery that I honestly had no idea “whodunit” until it was revealed at the very end. Guessing correctly too soon ruins a book for me, so I really appreciated that!

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the footnotes. I read them in the beginning once I figured out I could click on them on my kindle, but I stopped a couple chapters in. I love the plot reveal of the next book in the series. Overall, I definitely recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for the digital reviewer’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this debut by Catherine Mack! The title is brilliant, and that's what caught my attention first, along with the fun cover. Eleanor Dash is on a book tour in Italy, which should be amazing. But instead of enjoying the sights, she's preoccupied with how to kill off her main character, Connor Smith, who happens to be based on her real-life ex who's also on the tour. Things start to get interesting when Connor claims someone is trying to kill him in real life. There are plenty of suspects, with Eleanor at the top of the list.

This book was a light-hearted mystery with plenty of humor and lots of secrets to be revealed over time. There were also plenty of asides to the reader, in the form of footnotes, which were fun, but a little difficult to read on an e-reader.

Definitely looking forward to reading the next Eleanor Dash adventure!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review

3 stars
This was fun. It had humor, romance, mystery. It became repetitive at times, but I was able to push through. As for the footnotes, I’ve enjoyed them in other works, but if not used properly they can take away from the story. I can see where the author was going with them here, but I’m not sure they actually added much to the overall picture. It was more of a distraction.

Overall this was fun, and I suspect with a good once over by the author and editor this could be great!

So much fun! Mystery, murder, and romance in Southern Italy.

Eleanor is celebrating the 10th anniversary of her hit debut mystery novel with a 10-day tour across Italy. The only problem is she’s being blackmailed by the star of her novels, Connor. And Connor is claiming someone is trying to kill him. Oh, and her ex-boyfriend and love of her life is joining the book tour and seems to be totally uninterested in getting back together.

This was an entertaining and cheeky (mostly due to the footnotes) read. I’m looking forward to the sequel! 3.5 stars.

Thank you very much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

I would probably give this a 3.5, just because I didn’t really get into the footnotes. I wasn’t sure where or how they fit into a novel for me. Also, I wasn’t as gripped as I normally am. It would have been more successful for me if the “gimmicks” were not there. But, I get that the author wanted to try something different.

Having just spent a month in Italy this year, I was transported back by Eleanor's adventures and I loved every single second of this zany, crazy book. I particularly enjoyed the conversational style between reader and author. I have never read anything quite like this and I quite enjoyed it!

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy. It is my pleasure to write an honest review!

This book was unlike any book I’ve ever read before. It is a book without a 4th wall. The entire book is essentially a monologue to the reader from the narrator. The footnotes confused me at first, but I found them to be funny as the book went along. I like this book, quirky as it may be. It’s like a game of clue in book form.

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is a fun, irreverent take on mystery novels and the writers who compose them. The first in a series about true-crime/mystery writer Eleanor Dash, the book opens with a quotation from both Eleanor and Agatha Christie, priming mystery fans for the excitement to come. Eleanor has gained literary fame with her Vacation Mystery Series, but, since she based the series on her real-life adventures with a man named Connor Smith and neglected to change his name, he has been blackmailing her for a large percentage of her salary. Eleanor is ready to kill off the character that her readers love, but when a real-life attempt on Connor's life happens while they are traveling abroad, Eleanor will be drawn into a dangerous adventure.

This book will delight mystery fans looking for a fun read that will keep them guessing. Eleanor's voice is charming and confessional, and the ends of the chapters feature footnotes explaining key details of her narrative. The book is intriguing, funny, and hard to put down!

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.